The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. AbdulRahman Dambazau, has identified education as the solution to the security challenges currently facing the country.
Dambazau made the statement on Saturday in Abuja while delivering a lecture at the 2016 Annual Lecture/Dinner of Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) with the theme: “Education and the Threat to Nigeria’s Internal Security’’.
“It is a fact that an educated person whether through vocational or liberal, is trained to be self- reliant, who is employable and has no time for negative activities.
“This is true because they know how to channel their grievances without violence.
“Educated persons are also assumed to understand religious and cultural differences between them and other citizens and the diversity as a source of strength and not conflict,’’ Dambazau said.
The minister also said that boarding school provided opportunities for students to meet people from different tribes across the country.
He said that education was a melting point of cultures where these diverse cultures were fostered and strengthened for a peaceful co-existence, rather than the other way round.
“Education gives people the ability to critically examine issues and information before acting, as well as playing a vital role in the security of any nation.
“Education is a veritable tool in dealing with the nation’s internal security threats, since it is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for society to progress,’’ he said.
Dambazau noted that it was not possible to talk about internal security without emphasising education.
This, he said, must be at the centre of any development agenda of any country because it was the seed for economic and socio-political growth of any nation.
He also called for attitudinal change of prison inmates to reduce radicalism and make them self-reliant in order to be re-integrated into the society and become productive and successful.
He also called on the government to address unemployment among the youth , saying that most robbery cases and other crimes were committed by the youth.
“When young people are out of school and also suffer from economic hardships, they are easily mobilised for negative activities.
“If you close the school, you open a prison and vice versa,’’ he said.
He recalled that in some years back, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) advocated 26 per cent of the budgets of developing countries be allocated to education.
He said all these were efforts geared toward engaging the youth in a meaningful venture, thereby, reducing the rate of restiveness among youths as well as taking their minds off negative thinking.
“If the country gives its citizens the right type of education, that imbibes in them various skills and expertise, a strong work ethic, patriotism and the quest for excellence.
“The idea of being easily mobilised for negative ventures will be very difficult.
He, therefore, called for the incorporation of vocational education in the nation’s educational curriculum in order to move the sector forward.
Earlier, the President of the Association, Alhaji Umaru AbdulMutallab, said the theme for this year’s lecture was chosen to educate members of the association and Nigerians on internal security which he noted, was a big challenge facing the country at the moment.
AbdulMutallab, urged the association to continue with the good work it was doing, especially in generating ideas that would move the country forward.
Also, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOBA, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, commended the association for its efforts at contributing to nation building.
He also commended the union for embarking on various projects aimed at uplifting education and other sectors in the country.
In his remarks,the Chief Host, the Minister, FCT, Malam Muhammed Bello, wished the association a happy deliberation and God’s guidance.
He also prayed God to “continue make some of the members of the association the Ministers of FCT so as to continue to host the association in the FCT’’. (NAN)